Press Release

AWB Announces 2014 Automatic Endorsements

OLYMPIA — Forty-two members of the Washington State Legislature have earned automatic endorsement from the state’s largest business association.

The Association of Washington Business today confirmed 43 incumbent candidates — 11 senators and 32 representatives — as recipients of the association’s early endorsement based on their lifetime voting record on business issues. Legislators who garner an 80 percent or better voting record with AWB receive an automatic endorsement.

“These legislators have demonstrated a consistent commitment to supporting policies that foster a healthy and competitive business environment in Washington state,” said Gary Chandler, vice president of government affairs for AWB. “We need people in Olympia who understand the challenges faced by today’s private employers, and the impact of legislative decisions on job creation and business expansion. Our economy is still fragile. We face increasing competition from border states and the world around us. Our regulatory and tax system matters. And Washington state needs lawmakers who understand how those decisions play out in the free market.”

The association’s full review of the 2014 legislative session and complete vote record for the House, Senate and governor will be published later next month. The complete list of automatically endorsed candidates includes:

Sen. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard

Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane

Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick

Sen. Brian Dansel, R-Republic

Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale

Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn

Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond

Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside

Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-Pierce County

Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch

Rep. Vincent Buys, R-Lynden

Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger

Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis

Rep. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman

Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland

Rep. Mark Hargrove, R-Covington

Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver

Rep. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee

Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island

Rep. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney

Rep. Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw

Rep. Norm Johnson, R-Yakima

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick

Rep. Linda Kochmar, R-Federal Way

Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda

Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish

Rep. Drew MacEwan, R-Union

Rep. Chad Magendaz, R-Issaquah

Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg

Rep. Terry Nealy, R-Dayton

Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama

Rep. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane

Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas

Rep. Jay Rodne, R-Snoqualmie

Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax

Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy

Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton

Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida

Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla

Rep. JT Wilcox, R-Yelm

Rep. Hans Zeiger, R-Puyallup

Editor's note: The endorsement list has been updated as of May 27, 2014.

About the Association of Washington BusinessFormed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 8,100 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.